DSS Press Releases 97/001 of 3rd January 1997 and 97/159 of 28th August 1997
NOTES

Press Release 97/001 of 3rd January 1997 was entitled "Earnings top-up off to a flying start"
1997/08/28 - DSS Press Release 97/159 entitled "Earnings top-up statistics, May 1997"


The earnings top-up scheme is a three year pilot scheme started on 8th October 1996 and running in selected areas as follows:

North East (Sunderland and Newcastle);

Yorkshire (Barnsley, Castleford; Dewsbury; Doncaster; Pontefract & Wakefield);

North Wales;

South (Bournemouth and Southend);

Scotland (Crieff; Dumbarton; Perth and Stirling).

The earnings top-up scheme is similar to family credit save that it is for persons without dependent children. Couples and single people aged between 18 and 65 are eligible for earnings top-up if they live in a pilot scheme area, work more than 16 but less than 30 hours per week and have less than £8,000 capital/savings.

Maximum weekly benefit, on top of earnings, is £41.05 for a single person or £71.20 for a couple. Detailed rules are available at Job Centres, Benefits Agency offices and many Citzens Advice Bureaux.

At 31st May 1997, there were 13,923 recipients with an overall weekly average payment of £24.78 (approx 6,000 single people over 25, getting £23.38 on average; approx 5,600 single people below 25, getting £22.08 on average and the balance being couples getting £35.01 on average).

The government is currently evaluating the pilot earnings top up scheme with a view to deciding whether to put it on a permanent basis when it expires in October 1999.

FINISH>
updated Apr99;